Metra meeting called to consider appointing interim leader

Metra’s acting chairman has called a special meeting for Tuesday to consider naming a single interim executive director for the embattled commuter rail agency.

The resignation-diminished board is scheduled discuss an ordinance concerning an “interim management appointment” as well as go into closed session to discuss personnel and legal counsel, according to the agenda, released late today.

A Metra spokesman said he had no details beyond the terse agenda, but some board members said the remaining six members could possibly decide on putting a single administrator in charge of day-to-day operations on a temporary basis.

Two deputy executive directors have been running the agency since board members ousted CEO Alex Clifford on June 21. But acting Chairman Jack Partelow has expressed dissatisfaction with this set-up.

Board member Jack Schaffer called it a “two-headed monster.”

“I believe the RTA Act makes it pretty clear we should have a single executive director,” Schaffer said Friday, referring to the state statute which governs the transit agencies.

The two deputies are Alex Wiggins, in charge of administrative affairs, and Don Orseno, who runs Metra’s operations.